Telephone



J. A. LAKIN.

TELEPHONE.

No. 244,261. Patented July 12,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. LAKIN, OF \VESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

TELEPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,261, dated July 12, 1881.

Application filed December 9.9, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. LAKIN, of Westfield,in the county of Ham pden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Telephones; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide an ordinary telephone with conveniences for hearing and speaking at the same time, todiminish as far as possible the singing sound of the wire and other noises caused by outside disturbing influences, and to increase the reproduction of articulated sounds, or to m ake them more clear and defined.

To this end my invention consists, first, of a sound-pipe communicating with the soundchamber of the telephone and extending out to a sufficient length to be held to the car while speaking in the mouth-piece, and a switch pivoted to the telephone in such manner that either the orifice of the sound-pipe or that of the mouth-piece may be closed, as desired, by moving the switch either to one side or the other.

It also consists of an elastic cushion surrounding that part of the line-connectin g wire which is within the telephone, by which any singing sound of the wire occasioned by the wind or other causes is very much diminished, all which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

Figure I is a perspective view of a telephone having my invention applied. Fig. II is a central longitudinal section of the same through the sound-pipe orifice and mouth-piece; and Fig. III is a view of the inside of the cover, showing the arrangement of the switch.

- In the drawings, B represents a box or the main portion of the telephone, which may be cylindrical or of any convenient form and length, to the front edge of which is secured the diaphragm 'i in the usual manner. The cover E, which should be provided with the sound-chamber F, is secured to the front edge of the box B in any convenient manner.

At any convenientfpoint--preferably as near to the mouthpiece as possible-is made an oritice, into which I insert a small metal tube, a, over the outer projecting end of which I secure a flexible tube, 0, which should be of such convenient length that when the mouth of the person speaking is at the mouth-piece A a small bell or cup, D, secured to the outer end of the tube C, may be held to the ear of the person speaking without removing the mouth from the mouth-piece.

The switch 1), consisting of a thin metallic plate, may be pivoted at any convenient point in the cover, as at 0, and its inner end is of such form and size as to cover and close either orifice, A or a, and the bridge 0 is of such form and length as to hold the inner end of the switch firmly against the rim of either orifice to close it, and also to stop it at a point when exactly opposite or in front of either orifice, when moved for that purpose.

The wire it is secured to the diaphragm at the inner end, and extends from thence to a point outside the box B, and this wire is surrounded and clasped by a rubber tube, (shown in section at g in Fig. II.) This rubber tube 9 operates to deaden the singing sound of the line-wire produced by the wind, and also any other noises which would be confusing to the listener during conversation. This tube does not serve to insulate the wire in any way, nor

is it intended for that purpose, as this tele-.

phone is designed more especially for use upon short lines without a battery, but only operates as above described, and to make unnoticeable sounds other than those of conversation.

To use this telephone to advantage the person speaking places his mouth to the mouthpiece A and holds the bell or cup D with one hand to his ear; then with the other hand he moves the switch I) away from its position in front of the mouth-piece A to that in front of the hearing-orifice a and speaks, after which he moves the switch back to its position in front of the mouth-piece and listens for the reply, the sound of which, reaching the soundchamber F through the medium of the diaphragm, passes out the pipe 0, which is now open, and is heard distinctly at the cup D. In this manner conversation may be easily carried on by simply moving the switch I) to and so as to be applied to the ear simultaneously fro withontrem ovin gthe mouthfrom them onthwith the use of the instrument in speaking into piece. the mouth-piece, substantially as described.

Having thus described my invention, what 3. The combination, with atelephone, of the I 5 5 I claim as new isconnecting-wire h and a rubber tube, g, secured 1. The combination, in a telephone, of the thereon, substantially as and for the purpose mouth-piece A, the sound-pipe G, and a switch specified.

b, substantially as and for the purpose de- JAMES A. LAKIN. scribed. Witnesses:

1o 2. In a telephone, a sound pipe or tube eX- H. B. LEWIS,

tending out from the vicinity of the diaphragm F. 1-3. MEEKER. 

